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Published Wednesday, November 04, 2009 in Opinion
Georgia is the state for business
Sen. Mitch Seabaugh
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Georgia is open for business and will remain that way as long as we don't raise taxes. During times of economic downturns and declining revenues, you will hear a variety of suggestions on how to turn around the economy. These suggestions can be as reasonable as tax incentives for job growth or as outlandish as raising taxes on struggling businesses and families. Raising taxes in Georgia is not an option. Georgia is poised for an economic turnaround utilizing free-market principles.
Companies want to locate where taxes are low. Georgia has one of the lowest corporate income tax rates, ranking 42nd in the nation, according to Georgia State University's Fiscal Research Center. Georgia also ranks 35th in the nation on total per person tax burden, making jobs more attractive.
By maintaining these low taxes, Georgia is attracting companies, growing jobs and turning around our economy. During the next five years, our state should see growth of more than 22,000 jobs and investments over $560 million from companies relocating to Georgia. For example:
Mitsubishi Power Systems (Savannah) equals 500 jobs and $325 million.
Belgian flooring manufacturer IVC Group equals 115 jobs and $70 million. This will be the company's first U.S. plant and it will locate in Dalton.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (Newnan) cancer treatment hospital equals 500 jobs and $150 million.
Chicken of the Sea International domestic canning operation (Lyons) equals 200 jobs and $20 million.
Fortune 500 processing firm First Data Corp. plans to relocate its global headquarters to Atlanta. That equals 1,000 employees over the next three years.
The new Kia plant in West Point will be rolling off the first car produced in the U.S. on Nov. 16. Kia built its first U.S. manufacturing plant at a cost of $1 billion and brought 1,200 much-needed jobs to the region and state. In addition, auto parts suppliers added approximately 3,000 jobs. Georgia Tech estimates that this plant will bring nearly 20,000 new jobs by 2012.
Businesses are not the only ones who have noticed that Georgia is a business and job friendly state. In its annual grading of state business climates, CNBC ranked Georgia 10th in the nation. Georgia also earned high scores in the cost of living and business friendly categories. Governing Magazine named Georgia one of the best managed states in the U.S. Our state received high scores in managing for performance, the budget process and project monitoring. Georgia's spending per capita ranks among the lowest in the nation.
Stimulus dollars and government bailouts are not bringing companies and jobs to Georgia. Growing the private sector and getting Georgians back to work is the only formula for economic success. We must keep taxes, the cost of doing business and regulatory burdens low. Georgia is on the brink of substantial job growth and company investment.
Let's not scare them away by raising taxes.
(Sen. Mitch Seabaugh serves as Senate majority whip. He represents the 28th Senate District which includes Coweta and Heard counties and portions of Carroll and Troup counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.6446 or by e-mail at mail@mitchseabaugh.com )
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Lower taxes do help the middle class- who pay the majority of taxes. The poor get "refunds" and the rich find eccentric ways to hide their wealth through "foundations" and the like. In a nation's envy- the term "eat the rich" has in reality become "eat the middle class." Tax free day for the "ordinary" middle class citizen is now around May- and I'm sure with all the bailouts will probably extend to December in years to come. I suppose when the middle class has been completely dissolved- the world can go back to the wonderful feudal system of the super rich and super poor. Unfortunately, it is inevitable in our circumstance that taxes must be raised- at least that's how history has always played out.
Posted by Katie B. at 4:52 PM
Businesses fear crooked/poor State or local politicians more than taxes. Low tax rates and still no business? It’s the politicians. The friends of politicians will enact laws and permit regulations hurting competition but favoring friends. Building codes often favor friends and prevent competition from moving here. Don’t like Walmart? Only products made by lower paid workers in China or other 3rd world countries can afford to sell them here using Walmart’s efficient distribution technologies. The State is not ‘attracting’ businesses but subsidizing businesses on the backs of employees and tax payers. “Beggar thy neighbor” is selling out, rewarding employers and banks to profit from shifting costs onto the tax payer and employees instead of rewarding investment in new and efficient technologies.
Posted by turfkiller at 1:22 PM
Lower taxes don't help ordinary people. Lower taxes help the rich. Once again I find myself asking if Coweta County is full of billionaires hiding in the closet?
Posted by No Matter What at 10:04 AM
now let's see something don to get the ad valorem tax down.We need more jobs in the state. I just looked at a jacket in WalMart. MADE IN CHINA. This really helps our unemployed. Our unemployed still face ever increasing property taxes.
Posted by disgusted at 9:37 AM
I agree that taxes shouldn't be raised, but Georgia has the most bank closures. Where are these businesses (namely small businesses) going to get loans?
Posted by Katie B. at 8:15 AM
Sen. Seabaugh see what the leaders in Washington refuse to see. I applaud him in his suggestions and comments and encourage all to stand with him and these ideals. If the country is going to choose another direction, at least we can support our state's leadership when they understand and make the correct choices.
Posted by Terry from Newnan at 7:27 AM
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Lower taxes
11/5/2009
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It does help. Who do you think own businesses not the poor.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 1:14 AM